"Catholic" weekly endorse same-sex unions

The National Catholic Reporter has come out with an editorial in favor of the Massachusetts court ruling calling for legal recognition of same-sex "marriage." The Reporter sees this decision as a "beneficial step along the path of human understanding and human rights."

If you look beyond the editorial, to the back pages that carry the classified ads, you'll see that American bishops routinely advertise in the Reporter when they plan to hire people for diocesan posts.

So the bishops are staffing their chanceries with people who read-- and, presumably, as a rule agree with-- the Reporter's editorials.

Suddenly it all comes into focus, doesn't it?

Phil Lawler has been a Catholic journalist for more than 30 years. He has edited several Catholic magazines and written eight books. Founder of Catholic World News, he is the news director and lead analyst at CatholicCulture.org. See full bio.

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Dear Louis IX,
Good observation. Let us pray that we all have the strength to "hang in there," especially the "little ones," who have trouble comprehending what is going on.
Have a good Lent,
John

Posted by: -
Feb. 22, 2004 6:29 PM ET USA

Plick -- There is a parallel indeed. Protestant "reformers" of the 1500's recognized widespread abuses in the Church, but were impatient for healing from within, some rejecting magisterial authority altogether. One connection between then and now is the time lag between crisis and response. It seemed to take a long time before Catholics for a Free Choice was publicly renounced. All "Catholic" organizations, activists and publications should be similarly evaluated, then approved or condemned

Posted by: John J Plick -
Feb. 21, 2004 12:12 PM ET USA

Dear LouisIX,
I personally prefer to define "sin" in terms of "self" rather than other. It is the safer way to go. I certainly believe that the "protestant reformation" can be viewed as a response to papal indifference regarding gross abuses of power by the bishops of that time in regard to the selling of indulgences and in fact "Church authority" in general. Perhaps you notice a vague similarity to the present situation? We need to own our own guilt.

Posted by: -
Feb. 20, 2004 10:08 PM ET USA

Although, I will say that the link between reading editorials and reading ads isn't absolute. I stopped reading the National Catholic *Register's* editorials after they threw in their lot with the corrupt establishment against Michael Rose. But I continued to read the ads until the subscription ran out. Nice ads.

Posted by: -
Feb. 20, 2004 8:53 PM ET USA

How can they use the word "Catholic" in their name?

Posted by: -
Feb. 20, 2004 8:52 PM ET USA

What is so sad to me is that while these Humanists are doing there damage there is a Priest who I consider a hero very ill and near death, at 87 he has fought the good fight faithfuly and never waivered nor worried over threats of any kind only to stay true to our faith. Now I look for that next priest who is corrageous enough to live by the vows he took . They are few and far between but they are there. Look for those few good men and support them as much as you can we must save what is left.

Posted by: -
Feb. 20, 2004 1:07 PM ET USA

[i]Suddenly it all comes into focus, doesn't it?[/i]
Through a glass, clearly.

Posted by: -
Feb. 20, 2004 12:20 PM ET USA

Is there no regulatory office headquartered at the Vatican that monitors self-described Catholic publications? Or do they publish what they please and function autonomously? Protestant rebellion did irreparable harm decades before the Council of Trent convened in the sixteenth century. How much will it take for Church authorities to sit up, take notice and respond?

Posted by: -
Feb. 20, 2004 8:48 AM ET USA

The most pathetic aspect of this kind of thinking is that promoting such a "beneficial step along the path of human understanding and human rights" is what the modern Catholic Church has made its most important mission. The "cult of man" has replaced the "cult of God" and so the people are godless and mankind debases itself more and more with each passing day. Love God for His own sake with every fiber of your being. Then love your neighbor as yourself. This isn't such a hard concept.

Posted by: -
Feb. 19, 2004 11:50 PM ET USA

NCR is the publication that ran a contest to discern the appropriate new Jesus for the third milennium. The old one being too passe and paleo, don't you know. And the winnuh was...a very androgenous black woman.
Worldwide hubbub over this lasted, oh maybe thirty seconds. No, ten. Maybe less. But the point is, the foks who put this thing together are still there.

Posted by: -
Feb. 19, 2004 10:44 PM ET USA

There's a certain serenity to be had in praying for your bishop while not paying him. I've appreciated the annual diocesan appeal much more the past couple of years knowing from the beginning that I'm not giving anything, and that I'm joined by numerous others. I suspect one of the things they won't be doing is buying ads from NCR--there's just not enough money coming in. I suppose the MTV ads for vocations will get nixed, too. AHHHH what a refreshing feeling...

Posted by: -
Feb. 19, 2004 8:16 PM ET USA

that is horrible -- wish it were not so

Posted by: -
Feb. 19, 2004 7:37 PM ET USA

The episcopacy, with only a paltry few exceptions, and too many of the priests of their generation, are corrupt beyong anyone's worst imaginings. Forget them; certainly don't perpetuate their infidelity by contributing monetarily even to your own parish. The whole enterprise has been reduced to professional begging.
One's salvation lies elsewhere. Embrace any of the faithful movements that are the future of a vastly diminished Church.

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